the economy. look at this poll. which candidate would better handle the economy? the president, 49%, governor romney, 48%. a dead heat. the president has to defend his record. governor romney not only needs to attack his record but to convince voters he has a better place to take them if he wins the election. and you know this full well, the reason this debate and what both candidates say in the economy is so important is the friday morning after the wednesday night debate, we'll get the latest unemployment report. if governor romney could turn in a strong debate performance and another tepid jobs report, there's a chance for this race to change after debate number one. >> if you're the obama campaign, you're looking at all these numbers in our brand-new poll. what's most encouraging to you? >> reporter: in scrubbing through the demographics, the regional numbers, here's one thing they will like at the obama campaign. among white voters nationally, the president gets 41%. governor romney gets 56%. governor romney's beating him by a big number, how is that good for